The Kepler Challenge team is planning full steam ahead for about 2000 visitors to Te Anau for the 33rd annual 60km mountain race through the Fiordland National Park on December 5. 

Race director Steve Norris said all 500 starts for the race had "filled up by two minutes and six seconds’’ of entries opening online on July 4. 

The 27km Luxmore Grunt is also fully subscribed with 200 starters. 

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The wait list has about 375 names on it, Mr Norris said. 

“We are just planning to be at (Covid-19 pandemic response) level one and it will be all good,” he said. 

The race would have to be cancelled if New Zealand went back to levels three or four, but the Kepler Challenge Trust was considering contingency plans for a level two scenario, Mr Norris said. 

“The trustees are keeping an eye on it.” 

The Kepler Challenge was started in 1988 and usually just 450 places are available for the 60km loop on the Kepler Track. 

The Department of Conservation this year approved an extra 50 places for the mountain run, because it is a Covid year and Te Anau had not received many visitors this year.

Runners tackle the Kepler Challenge. PHOTO: Supplied

Mr Norris said past surveys had shown that for every athlete in the race, another 1.8 people came to Te Anau for the weekend, swelling the population of about 2500 residents by another 2000 people. 

The race weekend was a big event for the town, with many people arriving a few days early to have a look around. 

He said he was hoping people would also hang around the area for a few days after the race and add the region to their holiday in the lower South Island. 

In the race’s 33 year history, the route has only had to be changed three times because of bad weather. 

Mr Norris was optimistic that the full routes would be runnable this season, after weather-related changes to the course last year. 

Kepler Challenge trustee Toni Thompson said she was excited the event had received approval from DOC for 50 extra people in the race. 

"This is great news for the town who desperately need the business that this race brings each year. 

“From what we are hearing from most competitors, many are choosing to stay longer and explore the region with their families - more good news,” she said. 

Daniel Jones, who won the race the last two years, is returning this year, as is previous women’s race winner Ruby Muir, who very narrowly missed breaking the women’s record for the race four years ago. 

Dirt Church Radio will be broadcasting a live podcast on Friday December 4 at the Te Anau events centre about the race.